GATOR JOE'S
12431 SE 135 AVE, Ocklawaha FL 32179 · 352.288.3100
Last inspected Mar 9, 2026 · 11 visits since July 2023
MAY 24
OCT 24
FEB 25
OCT 25
MAR 26
▲ GETTING WORSE
5 inspections, one direction. The current grade is the worst on record.
Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Seven live roaches on wood behind prep sink in exterior building satellite kitchen. One live roach on wall behind clean dish shelf in exterior building satellite prep kitchen. Establishment immediately closed satellite prep kitchen for cleaning. Do not use prep area until DBPR has conducted a satisfactory callback inspection.
★ Spotless◆ Clean streak● Perfect year✓ Never fined
Awarded on the inspection record alone. What they mean →
Disciplinary actions
3 cases · $1,600
| Case | Violation date | Final order | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4--2022049587 | Jul 28, 2022 | Nov 9, 2022 | $800 |
| 5--2022014864 | Mar 14, 2022 | Apr 14, 2022 | $400 |
| 5--2016042353 | Aug 30, 2016 | Sep 28, 2016 | $400 |
Inspection history
11 visits, newest first
Mar 9, 2026Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 13 violations recorded, 5 high priority.
5 High priority0 Intermediate8 Basic
What the inspector wrote — 13 findingsThe state's own report →
Employee began working with food, handling clean equipment or utensils, or touching unwrapped single-service items without first washing hands. Female employee scooped ice for customer drink with plastic cup touching the ice, employee did not wash hands prior to scooping ice.
Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Male employee picked up box from floor the added red sauce to portion cup without washing hands.
Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Female employee scooped ice for customer drink with plastic cup touching the ice, employee did not wash hands prior to scooping ice.
Food contaminated by employees/consumers and operator continued to serve food. See stop sale. Female employee scooped ice for customer drink with plastic cup touching the ice, employee did not wash hands prior to scooping ice.
Show the remaining 9 findings ▾
Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In reach in cooler located in prep room, two raw shell eggs on shelf over case of tomatoes. Moved.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Cup in sugar. Removed.
Cloth used as a food-contact surface. Male employee wiped knife with towel.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Phone and vape on shelf over clean dishes in ware wash area. Moved during this inspection.
Employee with no beard guard/restraint while engaging in food preparation. Male employee in kitchen.
Floors not maintained smooth and durable. In kitchen area, rivets on floor.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Around doors of reach in cooler soiled with black substance.
Open dumpster lid. One lid open on dumpster.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Sugar not labeled at bar. Labeled.
Oct 20, 2025□ Call Back - CompliedRoutine Inspection
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Oct 13, 2025Call Back - Admin. complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 1 violations recorded, 1 high priority.
1 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In reach in make table: shrimp (50F - Cold holding); fish dip (50F - Cold Holding); tomatoes (50F - Cold Holding). Reach in cooler was unplugged. Operator discarded during this inspection.
Oct 7, 2025Warning IssuedRoutine Inspection
Violations found and a warning issued, with a return visit required. 15 recorded, 3 high priority.
3 High priority2 Intermediate10 Basic
Show 15 findings ▾
Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Male employee cutting celery touching stalk with bare hands. Employee put on gloves.
Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. In reach in make table: shrimp (50F - Cooling); fish dip (50F - Cold Holding); tomatoes (50F - Cold Holding). Operator discarded during this inspection.
Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In reach in make table: shrimp (50F - Cold holding); fish dip (50F - Cold Holding); tomatoes (50F - Cold Holding). Reach in cooler was unplugged. Operator discarded during this inspection.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Keg lines in walk in cooler soiled with slimy substance.
No soap and/or handwashing sign provided at handwash sink. Sink at outdoor bar. Added during this inspection.
Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Tuna steaks in walk in cooler, operator removed from packaging.
Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable. Green board on clean dish shelf.
Dead roaches on premises. One dead roach on floor in liquor room. Four dead roaches on floor in liquor cabinet near office. Discarded during this inspection.
Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Employee lunch box on shelf over vegetables. Moved during this inspection
Floors not maintained smooth and durable. Floor in kitchen
In-use knife/knives stored in cracks between pieces of equipment. Between prep table and make table. Removed during this inspection.
Nonfood-contact equipment exposed to splash/spillage not constructed of materials that are corrosion resistant, non-absorbent, smooth and easily cleanable. Wood in walk in cooler under fans.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets of reach in cooler gaskets soiled with food debris. Fan on dry storage shelf soiled with dust
Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Employee drink in reach in freezer.
Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Bottom of reach in make table in kitchen.
Feb 21, 2025Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 3 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority1 Intermediate2 Basic
Show 3 findings ▾
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Sink at bar has ice inside.
Old food stuck to clean dishware/utensils. Plastic pans on clean dish rack have food debris.
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. One towel in reach in make table. Removed.
Oct 14, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionRoutine Inspection
Met inspection standards. 11 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
1 High priority1 Intermediate9 Basic
Show 11 findings ▾
Establishment operating with changed menu and/or increased seating without septic system approval for such change. Establishment operating with 200+ seats.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Interior of oven soiled with grease.
Dead roaches on premises. Dead roach on floor in prep room. Discarded.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Opened bottle of water on shelf over prep table. Moved.
Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Female employee in kitchen with bracelets. Removed all.
Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Plastic pans on clean dish shelf.
No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Sign not posted at sink in outdoor bar. Added during this inspection.
Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Gaskets on seafood cooler soled with food debris.
Old food stuck to clean dishware/utensils. Old food on clean dishes in prep room.
Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Standing water in bottom of reach in make table in kitchen
Unclean building components, attachments or fixtures. Ceiling soiled with dust in kitchen area. Wall at bar has spider webs.
May 8, 2024Inspection Completed - No Further ActionComplaint Investigation (Partial)
Met inspection standards. 1 violations recorded, none serious enough to require a return visit.
0 High priority0 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 1 finding ▾
Dead roaches on premises. Seven dead roaches in cabinets at bar. Manager removed all.
Apr 19, 2024Administrative complaint recommendedComplaint Investigation
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 11 violations recorded, 1 high priority.
1 High priority2 Intermediate8 Basic
Show 11 findings ▾
Establishment operating with changed menu and/or increased seating without septic system approval for such change. Establishment operating with more than 200 seats. Seating change evaluation form is missing water source sign off.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Interior of ice machine has black substance on deflector plate. Interior of dish machine in kitchen has build up of grease and food debris.
Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Cup in sink at bar. Removed.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Cup in sugar. Removed.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Opened bottle of water on shelf over clean dishes in kitchen.
Employee with no hair restraint and/or beard guard while engaging in food preparation. Male employee on cookline with no hair restraint. Also, Male employee making drinks with beard.
Establishment did not report seating change that affects the license fee, Clean Indoor Air Act, sewage system approval or other related requirements. Establishment is operating with 200 seats.
In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Tongs in club soda on bar at 50F. Manager removed club soda from cups.
Open dumpster lid. Lid open on one dumpster
Stored food not covered. Wings on top shelf of walk in cooler. Cut fruit on bar. Both were covered during this inspection.
Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Sugar with no label at front counter. Labeled.
Jan 29, 2024Administrative complaint recommendedRoutine Inspection
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 4 violations recorded, 1 high priority.
1 High priority2 Intermediate1 Basic
Show 4 findings ▾
Establishment operating with changed menu and/or increased seating without septic system approval for such change. Establishment operating with over 200 seats, approved for 90.
Commercially processed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food opened and held more than 24 hours not properly date marked after opening. Fish dip opened on Saturday with no date mark in reach in cooler. Date added.
Spray bottle containing toxic substance not labeled. Window cleaner with no label. Labeled.
Establishment did not report seating change that affects the license fee, Clean Indoor Air Act, sewage system approval or other related requirements. Operating with 200 seats approved for 90.
Jul 25, 2023□ Call Back - CompliedComplaint Investigation
A return visit. The problems from the previous inspection had been dealt with.
0 High priority0 Intermediate0 Basic
Jul 20, 2023Administrative complaint recommendedComplaint Investigation
Referred for a formal case, which can lead to a fine. 16 violations recorded, 5 high priority.
5 High priority2 Intermediate9 Basic
Show 16 findings ▾
Establishment operating with changed menu and/or increased seating without septic system approval for such change. Establishment is operating with approximately 200 seats, licensed with 90 seats. Form on file in plan review packet for seat increase is missing information required to increase seating, DBPR not able to increase seating.
Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Four live flies in exterior satellite prep kitchen. One live fly in bar area.
Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Seven live roaches on wood behind prep sink in exterior building satellite kitchen. One live roach on wall behind clean dish shelf in exterior building satellite prep kitchen. Establishment immediately closed satellite prep kitchen for cleaning. Do not use prep area until DBPR has conducted a satisfactory callback inspection.
Roach excrement and/or droppings present. Black pepper spots on wall and on wood behind prep sink in exterior satellite prep kitchen. Establishment immediately closed satellite prep kitchen for cleaning. Do not use prep area until DBPR has conducted a satisfactory callback inspection.
Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Window cleaner hanging on side of alcohol storage behind bar.
Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Interior of ice bin has area of black substance on deflector plate behind bar.
Records/documents for required employee training do not contain all of the required information. Two certificates missing date of birth.
Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl in croutons in kitchen. Cup in sugar behind bar.
Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. Mahi and salmon in reach in cooler in satellite prep kitchen being thawed in packaging with label to remove package prior to thawing.
Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. One drink on prep table near walk in cooler. Two opened bottles of water on shelf over lettuce in walk in cooler located in kitchen.
Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Egg cartons on shelf over clean dishes. Moved during this inspection.
Establishment did not report seating change that affects the license fee, Clean Indoor Air Act, sewage system approval or other related requirements. Establishment is operating with approximately 200 seats, license issued for 90. Incomplete Seating Change form on file.
In-use utensil not stored on a clean portion of food preparation or cooking equipment. Tongs on top of container of cut fruit at bar near door. Tongs on top of lid of lemons near fountain machine at bar.
Standing water in bottom of reach-in-cooler. Reach in make table on cookline.
Unclean building components, attachments or fixtures. Walls and ceiling in kitchen soiled with dust buildup. Walls in exterior satellite prep kitchen soiled with food debris.
Wet wiping cloth not stored in sanitizing solution between uses. One on bar.
This record follows the licence, not the owner. Restaurants change hands and the licence history normally does not, so an older entry may describe people who no longer run the place. Every inspection above links to the state's own report. Something wrong? Tell us.